Ashleys Creative Catering

ABOUT US

Ashley’s Creative Catering is the area’s premier catering service. We’ve established this reputation for ourselves by creating innovative, contemporary and highly enjoyable dishes for events throughout our community. We bring to the table dishes that you and your guests are sure to love, without sticking to tired, old recipes that you’ve had a million times before.

It is our business and our privilege to serve up the highest quality of food and customer care possible. We’ll work with event organizers and hosts to fine-tune every detail of your menu, implement your favorite dishes and serve them with the utmost care.

When hiring a caterer for any event, there are certain traits that you should look for. Regardless of whether your event is a formal black-tie affair or a casual celebratory gathering, you want to know that the food and drinks are in good hands. You can’t entrust the catering of your event to just anybody.

Instead of signing up the first caterer that shows up on a quick online search, set up interviews with prospective caterers. This will give you the chance to check caterers for the qualities that will make your event a smash hit – at least where the food is concerned.

The Food is Exactly What You Want

At its core, catering is about the fine art of cooking. Make sure that you get a chance to sample the food yourself before committing to a caterer. Many catering services will arrange a taste-testing session for interested parties.

Make sure that their menu is something that will fit in with the theme of your event. If any guests have food restrictions, such as those on a gluten-free diet or vegetarians, make sure that the caterer can account for this.

They Have the Right Certifications

Every area has its own set of laws and standards regarding who can cook, handle and serve food. Research which laws apply to your area and ask the caterer about the appropriate certification. Those who have undergone the classes and taken the tests to become certified have shown that they have expert-level knowledge of food handling and safety measures pertaining to food.

They Have a Keen Eye for Detail

When serving food, whether it’s to one person or a hundred people, it’s important to pay attention to the area around you when catering an event. A caterer with a staff who has a keen eye for detail will be able to minimize errors, proactively engage with their team and ensure only the highest quality of food is getting onto guests’ plates.

Their Customer Service is Top-Notch

Your caterer should be glad to work with you in creating a menu and crafting dishes that suit your event. They should be creative, flexible and attentive to your requests. Your caterer should also be responsive to changes that you want made and special requests, within reason.

If you find a caterer with these qualities, you can bet that you’ve found one worth relying on.

When hosting an event, regardless of the size, the food and drink selection is a pretty important component. You want to make sure that your guests don’t go hungry or thirsty. You also want to make sure that the food served is delicious and crafted with your vision in mind. Because nobody can read your mind, it’s important that you interview with prospective caterers before you select anyone to cater the event. Asking the right questions is an important part of ensuring that the caterer you choose is the right fit for the job.

Here is a list of questions that you should keep on-hand when interviewing a caterer or catering company representative.

Questions to Ask Your Caterer Before Signing the Contract

You want to ask these questions before you put your pen to paper and agree upon the service offered. By asking these essential questions, you will learn quickly whether the caterer is the right one for your event.

Are you available on my chosen date?

If I want alcohol served, do you facilitate this? If so, are you licensed in the area to do so?

How long have you been in business?

How many events do you cater each month or year?

Do you charge a per-person fee? If no, how is your fee system structured?

Will you provide an on-site coordinator to help with serving food and drink?

Do you specialize in certain types of dishes?

Where do you get your ingredients?

Will you be able to accommodate certain dietary restrictions (such as vegetarians, gluten-free, dairy-free, etc)?

Do you offer food tastings before I agree to work with you?

What kind of flatware do you provide with your catering service?

Do you handle your own clean-up at the end of the event?

Are there extra fees that I should know about, such as set-up fees?

What is your policy relating to cancellations and/or refunds?

Do you charge an overtime fee, in case my event runs long? How much is the fee?

What are your policies about menu changes made by the client?

How much will I pay for an initial deposit? What will the final payment cost?

Can you provide a list of references?

The Importance of Asking the Right Questions

If you fail to ask the right questions of your potential caterer, you could end up stuck with expenses that you didn’t factor into your bottom line. Additional fees can be worked into many areas of catering, so it’s important to be careful! Ask these questions and any others that occur to you. Any reputable caterer will be glad to answer all of your inquiries and ease your concerns moving forward.

Do you have a big event coming up that needs a caterer? Let Ashley’s Creative Catering take some of the pressure off! We craft beautiful, breathtakingly delicious dishes for everyone to enjoy, regardless of the size of your event. To peruse our dishes and other services that we offer, contact Ashley’s Creative Catering today!